Former South African central bank governor Mboweni takes over as finance minister
Former Governor of the Reserve Bank of South Africa Tito Mboweni speaks during the Malaysia’s Central Bank – High Level Conference 2009 in Kuala Lumpur February 11, 2009. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday acknowledged the resignation of Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene and appointed former central bank governor Tito Mboweni as his replacement.
“It’s a measure of his character and commitment to the country that he has decided to resign despite not being implicated in any wrongdoing,” the president said.
“I am confident that Mr. Mboweni will bring the leadership that is needed now,” Ramaphosa said.
“As former governor of the Reserve bank and before that as minister of labour Mr. Mboweni brings with him vast experience in areas of finance, economic policy as well as governance.”
Nene faced calls to resign after he admitted visiting the Gupta brothers, friends of scandal-plagued former president Jacob Zuma who have been accused of high-level influence-peddling, and failing to disclose the meetings earlier.
He became a divisive figure in the scandal after acknowledging in a hearing that he had visited the Gupta brothers at their homes in Johannesburg, a confession his opponents said tarnished his credentials. He publicly apologized on Friday.
The Gupta brothers – Ajay, Atul and Rajesh – have been accused of using their friendship with Zuma, Ramaphosa’s predecessor, to siphon off billions of rand in state funds and of inappropriately influencing cabinet appointments.
The rand firmed moments before Mboweni was announced finance minister at a ceremony in Cape Town.
